R.C. Sproul on the bride of Christ

“The church is our mother, but it is Christ’s bride. In this role, we are the objects of Christ’s affection. We, corporately, are His beloved.

Stained and wrinkled, in ourselves we are anything but holy. When we say that the church is holy or refer to her as “holy mother church,” we do so with the knowledge that her holiness is not intrinsic but derived and dependent upon the One who sanctifies her and covers her with the cloak of His righteousness.

As the sensitive husband shelters his wife and in a chivalrous manner lends her his coat when she is chilled, so we are clad from on high by a husband who stops at nothing to defend, protect, and care for His betrothed.

His is the ultimate chivalry, a chivalry that no upheaval of earthly custom can eradicate or make passé. This chivalry is not dead because it cannot die.

The bride of Christ is soiled but will one day be presented spotless to the Father by the Son who bought her, who loves her, and who intercedes for her every day.

If we love Christ, we must also love His bride. If we love Christ, we must love His church.”

Comments

“We, corporately, are His beloved.” I am all too aware that I am wired up from a selfish perspective and see my life in Christ first and foremost at the individual level. Thanks for this great post, the reminder of how Christ loves His whole Bride. Thankful for your posts which make me think and challenge me! Love to you Christina.

hi diana! we are doing a series, at my church, on james. yesterday’s text was james 4:1-10 and one of the things our pastor made a point of in his sermon that though this church was plagued with hidden passions that produced all kinds of quarrels and fights and unruliness, it still was a church that God yearned jealously over. What a reminder that the body, with all her blemishes and problems, is still HIS bride. Love you dearly my beautiful friend & sister!

Amen! Christina its so easy to forget this and have, like Diana said ” a selfish perspective”. This is a particular struggle being single. Its’ so easy to get caught up in MY feelings, MY life, MY yadda yadda yadda. I have to remind myself constantly that I am first and foremost a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that His bride includes so many more people than me. Thank you for posting this, and making me think so early on a Monday morning. 🙂

i thought your post today actually captured something beautiful about the body of christ. you mentioned walking into church after the service of your dear friends mom and feeling “relieved” to be in the company of saints with whom we share a common experience and have the same hope. the body of christ is the primary means whereby the grace of God flows to us. it is no wonder he tells us not to forsake it!

Yes! Yes! Thank you for repeating this truth, Christina! Too many are saying they love Jesus but don’t like His bride, and this little comment space is not big enough to go into a big discussion about that. But, I do know this feeling well since I’ve struggled in many ways with “church.” I just finished DeYoung’s Why We love the Church, and while we diverge on various things, I was very encouraged by this book. Like J.I. Packer, I wanted to stand up and shout while I was reading. Much love to you!

how funny that you should mention this book — i read it too, and share exactly the same sentiment that you and ji packer did! i also almost included a quote from that book in this post since this is a repost but ultimately decided against it. kevin deyoung said, “the church we love is as flawed and messed up as we are, but she’s christ’s bride nonetheless. and i might as well have a basement without a house or a head without a body as despise the wife my saviour loves.”

Refreshing post on the community of believers. We are way too self focused and need constant reminders that we are part of a much bigger story. We belong to the entire body that God loves, that Christ bought and cares for, and that one day soon will be presented perfect. I cannot wait, can you? Love and blessings!

“If we love Christ, we must also love His bride. If we love Christ, we must love His church.”

Having come out of a church split recently, these words strike deep into my heart. People so often leave churches and churches divide over issues other than serious doctrinal error. These things ought not to be! We can’t just walk away from Christ’s Bride because of personal differences.

Blessings to you Christina!

Trackbacks

From R.C. Sproul at Ligonier Ministries: The church is our mother, but it is Christ’s bride. In this role, we are the objects of Christ’s affection. We, corporately, are His beloved. Stained and wrinkled, in ourselves we are anything but holy. When we …